Ɛpsilon

From J. J. Weir   6 July 1875

6 Haddo Villas | Blackheath SE

6 July 1875

My Dear Sir

I am still of the same opinion as that expressed in my notes enclosed.

I believe that each year since I last wrote large yellow pendulous racemes have appeared amongst the purple erect blooms.—1

This Spring I carefully again examined the tree, and found yellow racemes nearly at the top-most branch, I also found one other tree amongst my Brothers very extensive collection, which had been grafted in the same manner by his own gardener, with large yellow flowers some feet from the graft.—2

The case is not the same as that of Cytisus adami,3 but I will try and see my Brother to night at his town house and ascertain from him whether he has observed any racemes of a composite character, ie with both kind of flowers, I have not myself seen any.—

It is one of my greatest pleasures to reply to your enquiries.—

Believe me | Yours very truly | J Jenner Weir

C Darwin Esqr

CD annotations

On cover: ‘Ctyisus adami | Weir’s case’ pencil
1
Weir refers to his letter to CD of 27 June 1870 (Correspondence vol. 18). Weir had described a hybrid laburnum produced by grafting the yellow-flowered Cytisus alpinus (now Laburnum alpinum, Scotch laburnum) with C. purpureus (a synonym of Chamaecytisus purpureus, purple broom; see letter to J. J. Weir, 5 July 1875 and n. 2).
2
The Cytisus specimens were in Harrison William Weir’s garden. The gardener has not been identified.
3
On Cytisus adami (now +Laburnocytisus adamii), see the letter to J. J. Weir, 5 July 1875 and n. 2.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10044,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10044